MANILA, Philippines – Metro Manila and several moderate-risk areas are now transitioning to general community quarantine (GCQ).
President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday night said the capital region, Davao City, Regions 2, 3,4-A, Pangasinan and Albay will be placed under GCQ from June 1 to 15.
Update: Mandaue City in Cebu will be under GCQ.
Meanwhile, the rest of the of the country will be put under modified GCQ (MGCQ).
WATCH: Duterte addresses the nation May 28
The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) earlier defined GCQ as the implementation of temporary measures limiting movement and transportation, regulation of operating industries, and presence of uniformed personnel to enforce community quarantine protocols.
MGCQ, on the other hand, refers to the transition between GCQ and the New Normal, when the following temporary measures are relaxed and become less necessary: limiting movement and transportation, the regulation of operating industries, and the presence of uniformed personnel to enforce community quarantine protocols.
President Duterte instructed Presidential Spokesperson Secretary Harry Roque to announce places where there will be changes depending on what the Chief Executive called “the viability of the place to meet the challenges of COVID-19.”
In the same press briefing, Department of Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade announced that train and rail operations will resume partial operations on June 1.
Secretary Tugade told the President and other members of the Cabinet that LRT and MRT trains will carry 10% to 12% of their passenger capacity while the Philippine National Railway will be on 35% capacity.
Three hundred to five hundred buses will be allowed to augment the limited passenger capacity in trains in EDSA.
While the whole country still in quarantine, the Chief Executive reminded Filipinos to wear face masks in order to control spread of the deadly coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
“Alam mo, remember, the COVID microbes are still in the air that you breathe, that you pass on to your fellowmen if you are not ready or willing to wear the mask,” he said.
“This is the protection not for you but for the other guy. That is why the State has every right to control your movement if you pass on a contagion to the other population.”
Here's the difference between GCQ and modified GCQ:
Under GCQ
1. Ensure compliance with minimum public health standards.
2. Limited movement: for accessing of essential goods and services and work in offices and industries allowed to operate.
NOTE: Persons below 21 and those who are 60 and above, those with health risks, and pregnant women should stay home at all times unless they have to buy essential goods and services, or are allowed to work in permitted industries.
3. Road, rail, maritime, and aviation public transportation are allowed to operate at reduced capacity. Ensure physical distancing of 1 meter.
4. Face-to-face classes will only be allowed after August 24 and subject to risk assessment and compliance with minimum health standards.
5. On tertiary level, no face-to-face classes until August 31.
6. Non-work, entertainment-related gatherings are not allowed. Religious gatherings also restricted to 10 people only.
7. Work in government offices are allowed at full operational capacity. Alternative work arrangement is also encouraged.
8. Individual outdooor exercises are allowed, which includes jogging, walking, running or biking. Ensure wearing of face mask and social distancing.
9. All construction work shall be allowed to resume.
10. These industries may operate at full capacity: power, energy, water, utilities, agriculture, fishery and forestry industries, food manufacturing and food supply chain businesses, food retail establishments such as supermarkets, food preparation establishments limited to take-out and delivery services, health-related establishments, logistics, information technology and telecommunications, and the media
11. These industries may operate at 50 percent capacity: mining and other manufacturing, electronic commerce, delivery, repair and maintenance, and housing and office services
12. These industries may operate at 50 percent work onsite: financial services, legal and accounting, auditing services, professional services, scientific services, technical services, non-leisure services, non-leisure wholesale and retail
Under the modified GCQ (MGCQ)
1. Ensure compliance with minimum public health standards.
2. All persons are allowed to move outside their home.
3. Road, rail, maritime, and aviation public transportation are allowed to operate according to the guidelines of Department of Transportation (DOT). Ensure physical distancing of 1 meter.
4. Use Basic Education Learning Continuity Plan (BELCP) of DepEd
5. On tertiary level, face-to-face classes are allowed but subject to compliance with minimum health standards.
6. Gatherings are allowed but shoud be 50 percent of the venue or seating capacity.
7. Work in government offices are allowed at full operational capacity. Alternative work arrangement is also encouraged especially for high-risk persons.
8. Individual and group outdooor exercises, including non-contact sports like golf, tennis, table tennis, swimming are allowed.
9. All construction work shall be allowed to resume.
10. These industries may operate at full capacity: power, energy, water, utilities, agriculture, fishery and forestry industries, food manufacturing and food supply chain businesses, food retail establishments such as supermarkets, food preparation establishments limited to take-out and delivery services, health-related establishments, logistics, information technology and telecommunications, media, mining and other manufacturing, electronic commerce, delivery, repair and maintenance, and housing and office services, financial services, legal and accounting, auditing services, professional services, scientific services, technical services, non-leisure services, non-leisure wholesale and retail
11. These industries may operate at 50 percent capacity: barbershops, salons, personal care establishments, dine-in services.
As of Thursday, the Philippines has reported 539 new cases bringing the total COVID-19 cases to 15,588. This includes 3,598 recoveries and 921 fatalities.
— The Summit Express
President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday night said the capital region, Davao City, Regions 2, 3,4-A, Pangasinan and Albay will be placed under GCQ from June 1 to 15.
Update: Mandaue City in Cebu will be under GCQ.
Meanwhile, the rest of the of the country will be put under modified GCQ (MGCQ).
WATCH: Duterte addresses the nation May 28
The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) earlier defined GCQ as the implementation of temporary measures limiting movement and transportation, regulation of operating industries, and presence of uniformed personnel to enforce community quarantine protocols.
MGCQ, on the other hand, refers to the transition between GCQ and the New Normal, when the following temporary measures are relaxed and become less necessary: limiting movement and transportation, the regulation of operating industries, and the presence of uniformed personnel to enforce community quarantine protocols.
President Duterte instructed Presidential Spokesperson Secretary Harry Roque to announce places where there will be changes depending on what the Chief Executive called “the viability of the place to meet the challenges of COVID-19.”
In the same press briefing, Department of Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade announced that train and rail operations will resume partial operations on June 1.
Secretary Tugade told the President and other members of the Cabinet that LRT and MRT trains will carry 10% to 12% of their passenger capacity while the Philippine National Railway will be on 35% capacity.
Three hundred to five hundred buses will be allowed to augment the limited passenger capacity in trains in EDSA.
While the whole country still in quarantine, the Chief Executive reminded Filipinos to wear face masks in order to control spread of the deadly coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
“Alam mo, remember, the COVID microbes are still in the air that you breathe, that you pass on to your fellowmen if you are not ready or willing to wear the mask,” he said.
“This is the protection not for you but for the other guy. That is why the State has every right to control your movement if you pass on a contagion to the other population.”
Here's the difference between GCQ and modified GCQ:
Under GCQ
1. Ensure compliance with minimum public health standards.
2. Limited movement: for accessing of essential goods and services and work in offices and industries allowed to operate.
NOTE: Persons below 21 and those who are 60 and above, those with health risks, and pregnant women should stay home at all times unless they have to buy essential goods and services, or are allowed to work in permitted industries.
3. Road, rail, maritime, and aviation public transportation are allowed to operate at reduced capacity. Ensure physical distancing of 1 meter.
4. Face-to-face classes will only be allowed after August 24 and subject to risk assessment and compliance with minimum health standards.
5. On tertiary level, no face-to-face classes until August 31.
6. Non-work, entertainment-related gatherings are not allowed. Religious gatherings also restricted to 10 people only.
7. Work in government offices are allowed at full operational capacity. Alternative work arrangement is also encouraged.
8. Individual outdooor exercises are allowed, which includes jogging, walking, running or biking. Ensure wearing of face mask and social distancing.
9. All construction work shall be allowed to resume.
10. These industries may operate at full capacity: power, energy, water, utilities, agriculture, fishery and forestry industries, food manufacturing and food supply chain businesses, food retail establishments such as supermarkets, food preparation establishments limited to take-out and delivery services, health-related establishments, logistics, information technology and telecommunications, and the media
11. These industries may operate at 50 percent capacity: mining and other manufacturing, electronic commerce, delivery, repair and maintenance, and housing and office services
12. These industries may operate at 50 percent work onsite: financial services, legal and accounting, auditing services, professional services, scientific services, technical services, non-leisure services, non-leisure wholesale and retail
Under the modified GCQ (MGCQ)
1. Ensure compliance with minimum public health standards.
2. All persons are allowed to move outside their home.
3. Road, rail, maritime, and aviation public transportation are allowed to operate according to the guidelines of Department of Transportation (DOT). Ensure physical distancing of 1 meter.
4. Use Basic Education Learning Continuity Plan (BELCP) of DepEd
5. On tertiary level, face-to-face classes are allowed but subject to compliance with minimum health standards.
6. Gatherings are allowed but shoud be 50 percent of the venue or seating capacity.
7. Work in government offices are allowed at full operational capacity. Alternative work arrangement is also encouraged especially for high-risk persons.
8. Individual and group outdooor exercises, including non-contact sports like golf, tennis, table tennis, swimming are allowed.
9. All construction work shall be allowed to resume.
10. These industries may operate at full capacity: power, energy, water, utilities, agriculture, fishery and forestry industries, food manufacturing and food supply chain businesses, food retail establishments such as supermarkets, food preparation establishments limited to take-out and delivery services, health-related establishments, logistics, information technology and telecommunications, media, mining and other manufacturing, electronic commerce, delivery, repair and maintenance, and housing and office services, financial services, legal and accounting, auditing services, professional services, scientific services, technical services, non-leisure services, non-leisure wholesale and retail
11. These industries may operate at 50 percent capacity: barbershops, salons, personal care establishments, dine-in services.
As of Thursday, the Philippines has reported 539 new cases bringing the total COVID-19 cases to 15,588. This includes 3,598 recoveries and 921 fatalities.
— The Summit Express
